Chautauqua
Shelby  County  Indiana


          Chautauqua's began in 1874 in western NY.  The originators were a business man, Lewis Miller, and a Methodist minister, John Heyl Vincent.  The purpose was a summer camp to train Sunday School teachers and provide uplifting and educational programs for families.  It was so popular that it quickly spread from Lake Chautauqua, NY, across the United States.  Organized circuits of performers endeavored to inspire, educate and stimulate rural and small-town America.  Theodore Roosevelt described Chautauqua "as the most American thing in America." 
          The following pages are from a booklet donated by Sheila Knobeloch.  If anyone has other information on Shelby County Chautauqua's, please contact me.  It would be great to have a Shelby County Chautauqua picture album!
          Below, I have listed the names of the merchants that ran ads in the 1912 official program.  I have transcribed some of the information in the program so that the search engine will "catch" all the Shelby County family names.  If you see alternate spellings of your family name, please let me know and I will note those below so the search engine will help cousins not yet familiar with the different spellings. - PMF

Advertisements from these merchants can be found on the pages following:
Arbuckle & King Coal
Bailey & Pile Wall Paper
W. H. Bassett & W. I. Wintin Shoeing, Woodworking, Blacksmithing
Benefiel & Carmony Farm Implements & Cream Separators
W. E. Blackburn Dentist
A. C. Boehning Warm Air Furnaces
Cecilia Bogeman Millinery
F. L. Bogeman Meat Market
W. E. Brown Furnaces
George F. Burkher Smithing
Charles B. Cage Picture Framing
G. S. Campbell Livery and Sale Barn
Ovid Campbell Groceries
Carson Groceries
Casady Bros. Pool and Billiard Hall
C. C. Chapman Groceries
J. D. Clark Mechanic, Cars Built to Order
Comstock & Thompson Farm Implements, Buggies, Automobiles
Cone Shoe Store
H. S. Cory & Co Furniture
O. W. Cotton Co. Stoves, Refrigerators, Chairs, Rugs
Frank Day & Son Auto Repair & Accessories 
Wm. DeBusk Groceries
Deitzer-Hawkins Cash Coal Co
Daniel DePrez Co. Ice
J. G. DePrez Hardware & Stoves
Doble & Griffey Vacuum Cleaners
Omer Doran  &  H. W. Fleming Druggists and Soda Fountain
Dorsey & Co Feed, Seed and Produce; Electrical Material
C. T. Duffy Groceries
Earhart & Co. Shoe Store
Ralph Edwards    Funeral Home
W. L. Elliott Men's Furnishings
G. W. Ensminger Delicatessen, Imported Goods
Charles W. Flaitz Caterer to the Particular Ones
Mary Fleming Victor-Victrola Dept
A. Goodman Fine Clothing
T. E. Goodrich Real Estate
H. L. Goodwin Building & Loan Association
Goodwin & Jones Monuments, Markers, Vases
Hageman, Hawkins & Hendrickson Funeral Directors
Hall Drugs, Cigars, Sundries
Mrs. M. A. Hamilton Groceries
Harley Photographer
J. W. Hayworth Groceries
Hearn & Son Merchant Tailors
Elvin Heck Groceries
Isaac Heck Place for Everything
John Heng Chinese Laundry
A. Hershfelt Rubber Tires and Spring Wagons
J. G. Hicks Groceries
Hilligoss & Son Coal
Hoop Bros. Drugs, Rubber Goods, Sundries, Tobacco
Louis Hoover Clothing
Jenkins Drug Store
Jessup & Antrin Ice Cream
Stanley Jones Druggist
George Kirk Investments
Kirk & Son Insurance
Cy Lemmon Tents & Awnings
Jacob Lemasters Groceries
Thos. A. Leonard Coffee, Hot Sandwiches, Short Orders
E. W. Lewis Insurance
Will Louden Hotel Proprietor
Margaret Magill Millinery
Major & Sheldon Jewelers and Opticians
McClain & Bramlett Groceries
James McCloskey Jeweler
McCollum & Mueller Bakery, Lunch House
Miss Grace McGuire Millinery
Mehos Brothers Ice Cream, Candies
Meloy & Porter Cement Work
John Messick Investments
Michelsen Photography, Lantern Slides
Alvin Midkiff Livery
John C. Miller Horseshoeing and Blacksmithing
Mings Bros. Cigarists
John H. Mohr Groceries and Meats
Mearl Monfort Groceries
M. R. Montgomery Real Estate
Morris Department Store
Nail & Sigler Jewelry Store
H. M. Neal Real Estate, Fire, Tornado, Auto Insurance
Orebaugh Brothers Photography
J. O. Parrish Building Materials
Pearson Stoves and Irons
Esta Phares Blacksmithing
A. R. Pile Coffee
Pitman ---
W. A. Powell General Job Painter
George J. Rapp Groceries
Reinhart & White Livery, Feed & Sale Stable
F. J. Rembusch Theatre Proprietor
R. N. Roberts Groceries
Schoelch Bakery
Schoelch Brothers Boot Shop
Harry Shaw Meat Market
John Shelk Custom Made Shoes
Shepple & Son Livery, Wagons, Harnesses
Julius L. Showers Building and Loan Association
C. P. Sidlinger Meat Market
E. W. Siefert Auto Supplies and Repairs
John H. Siefert Automobiles and Bicycles
Simeox & Hall New Up-to-Date Store
J. J. Smith Cigars
H. C. Sorden Livery and Transfer
Stephan Brothers Shoes
R. T. Stewart &  Claude F. Fix Funeral Directors
S. P. Stroup Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Doors, Plaster, Hair
T. H. Tadlock Blacksmith
Chas. M. Thompson Confections, Cigars, Stogies
A. J. Thurston Sewing Machines
Vanarsdall & Stewart  Groceries
Vandergrift & Morris Auto Repairs, Tires, Tubes, Sundries
W. A. VanLue Drugs, Cigars, Confections, Ice Cream
Harry C. VanWay Confectioner, Ice Cream
W. H. Wagner Grocery
H. H. Walker Wholesale Grocery
Webben  &  Zeller Bakery
Galey Whaley Groceries
Clyde Whitaker Mineral Water Manufacturer
J. A. White Dentist
D. B. Wilson & Son Funeral Director

Chautauqua notes:

My father (born 1907) fondly remembered attending Shelbyville Chautauquas as a boy, which must have been around 1915-16 or so.  He said they were very educational and culturally enlightening.  I'm not sure how long Shelbyville had them.  My mother (born 1909) remembered them also, but didn't talk about them as much as my Dad.
Peggy Cliadakis

Ron Hamilton wrote a very descriptive article on Chautauqua's for  The Shelbyville News.  I am not sure how long they keep the articles online (I cannot reproduce it here due to copyright restrictions).  If  this link  no longer works, please notify me.


Front Page of the 1912 Chautauqua Booklet

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